Should NDSU move to the MAC?

[DJH]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/stor ... FHeadlines

Here's a story for ya JBB. WKU, former FCS national champ, just fired their coach and are now 0-9 after joining the Sun Belt for FBS glory.

[SuperHornet]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/stor ... FHeadlines

Here's a story for ya JBB. WKU, former FCS national champ, just fired their coach and are now 0-9 after joining the Sun Belt for FBS glory.

Other examples are Marshall (though they initially had some success in C-USA, have SERIOUSLY come down to Earth in the Big East), Idaho (which has NEVER done anything in FBS and only moved up because of political considerations relating to the elevation of Boise State), and Troy State. The two recent success stories are Boise and South Florida, which is amazing considering the fact that they are pretty much the fourth option in a talent-rich state.

The odds are VERY much against success.

[Mike Johnson]

Other examples are Marshall (though they initially had some success in C-USA, have SERIOUSLY come down to Earth in the Big East), Idaho (which has NEVER done anything in FBS and only moved up because of political considerations relating to the elevation of Boise State), and Troy State. The two recent success stories are Boise and South Florida, which is amazing considering the fact that they are pretty much the fourth option in a talent-rich state.

The odds are VERY much against success.

I agree, except that Marshall initially joined the MAC and are now in C-USA and have never been in the Big East.

We also hear about Cal Poly and UC Davis wanting to move up and they are what? 9th and 10th options in California. Actually, they are more like 20th with colleges in neighboring states taking their share of California athletes.

[houndawg]

houndawg,

You mean nobody here is buying. That doesnt bother me. These folks have already demonstrated their intellect and I agree with the first impression of them. I also see none are buying the vision for NDSU and the future of the FCS. The bigger markets are going to leave. I just hope NDSU makes the cut. If half of the MVFC can make it in the FCS with 9,000 fans/game or LESS NDSU can make it in the FCS with 18,000.

Not just here, Bubba. Half of the nation can't find Frago on a map.

[rowdy]

I can see a lot of you have no idea what Im talking about. Some of you have no idea what you are talking about. Im not inventing the steam engine here. Im talking about a college athletic program growing into its own market.

I have been reading about the MEAC and the announcement by the league they are trying to set up a bowl game. This game would pay out $1 million or so to the participating conferences. Im not sure which conferences they want to participate but it will be called the Heritage bowl. Naturally this is in response to the lack of payout in the FCS playoffs.

I can see the idea of a program or fan looking past what many of you think is the epitome of college football offends you, but it is simply a realistic choice of what is best. For NDSU its best to grow into the market. I have no illusions its going to happen this summer but its a goal for us and I think it is the goal driving the football program right now.

All of the negatives were spewed by someone or another when NDSU was talking about getting out of D2. Tremendous resistance from fans of the established powers, negative talk similar to what I read here. Even resistance from our own fans. We heard it all. The market was too small. No league would want to travel to Fargo, on and on and on. Some of you must simply be regurgitating your own posts from those days?

I sense resentment from a lot of you, a resistance to look at this realistically and a total lack of objective thinking. Ask the UND fans who had a lot worse things to say about NDSU decision to move. Its easy to amuse yourself and the rest of the oblique minds and still be wrong. I think the FCS is in trouble long term. Playoffs are money losers, the division lacks fan support and the programs are expensive to maintain.

Right now I pick up the paper and read a UND sports correspondent, Ryan Bakken, explaining to the world that UNDs attendance is so bad and NDSUs is so good because UND fans are more sophisticated. They arent impressed by the Cal Polys and Stony Brooks because they have D1 hockey. NDSU fans on the other hand are unsophisticated because they continue to come out in large numbers to see these types of teams. Well I guess with that and the comments I read here convoluted thinking comes at you from both sides. I guess I dont understand football because NDSU has demonstrated a market thats larger than the FCS but NDSU fans as a whole are unsophisticated because they turn out in such large numbers for the FCS. Oh well.

I have nothing against a shool moving up if the schools has shown it has done alot at their current level. but NDSU still has some work to do to be more competitive in FCS and strenghten their case for a move to FBS. I know the bigger picture picture you're talking about; the more exposure, widening the base. SEMO did the same thing when they moved up from the MIAA and has not had nearly the same success...overall they are struggling in almost every sport except track. Every school is different, but SEMO is 2 hrs away from STL who year in and year out produce alot of talent; but you dont see us talking about jumping up to the Big 12 or the MAC. We're trying to build our programs up to be competitive on all levels, so you have to look at a move like that which you are basing most of your argument on attendance. how many people do you think would show up to see NDSU play a home game against lets say an Iowa ST when your only wing come against NAIA schools or FCS schools? why would a coach from a top tier conf want to bring his team to a school whose athletic facilities are sub par?look at the whole picture on finding ways to get the whole athletic dept up to par and facilities up to bring in talent needed to compete and find a suitable home... do you think LA Tech is having much success being in the WAC...the WAC almost spreads across the whole nation, but LA Tech hasnt been more successful because of it...go back to the drawing board with some new points and we'll take a look at those too

[Col Hogan]

I have nothing against a shool moving up if the schools has shown it has done alot at their current level. but NDSU still has some work to do to be more competitive in FCS and strenghten their case for a move to FBS. I know the bigger picture picture you're talking about; the more exposure, widening the base. SEMO did the same thing when they moved up from the MIAA and has not had nearly the same success...overall they are struggling in almost every sport except track. Every school is different, but SEMO is 2 hrs away from STL who year in and year out produce alot of talent; but you dont see us talking about jumping up to the Big 12 or the MAC. We're trying to build our programs up to be competitive on all levels, so you have to look at a move like that which you are basing most of your argument on attendance. how many people do you think would show up to see NDSU play a home game against lets say an Iowa ST when your only wing come against NAIA schools or FCS schools? why would a coach from a top tier conf want to bring his team to a school whose athletic facilities are sub par?look at the whole picture on finding ways to get the whole athletic dept up to par and facilities up to bring in talent needed to compete and find a suitable home... do you think LA Tech is having much success being in the WAC...the WAC almost spreads across the whole nation, but LA Tech hasnt been more successful because of it...go back to the drawing board with some new points and we'll take a look at those too

Excellent perspective...outstanding post...

[SuperHornet]

The WAC spreads across the whole nation?

Not as bad as the bloody Sun Belt or especially the Great West, which extends to Houston and New Jersey.

[kemajic]

The WAC spreads across the whole nation?

Not as bad as the bloody Sun Belt or especially the Great West, which extends to Houston and New Jersey.

The WAC extends from Hawaii to LA. And since this is a football forum the Great West seems to extend from

[kemajic]

The WAC spreads across the whole nation?

Not as bad as the bloody Sun Belt or especially the Great West, which extends to Houston and New Jersey.

The WAC extends from Hawaii to LA. And since this is a football forum the Great West seems to extend from CA to ND.

[kemajic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/stor ... FHeadlines

Here's a story for ya JBB. WKU, former FCS national champ, just fired their coach and are now 0-9 after joining the Sun Belt for FBS glory.

Other examples are Marshall (though they initially had some success in C-USA, have SERIOUSLY come down to Earth in the Big East), Idaho (which has NEVER done anything in FBS and only moved up because of political considerations relating to the elevation of Boise State), and Troy State. The two recent success stories are Boise and South Florida, which is amazing considering the fact that they are pretty much the fourth option in a talent-rich state.

The odds are VERY much against success.

The three bad examples you cite, Marshall, Idaho and Troy are currently a combined 19-12. If that's bad in your book, I wonder what you think of the record of SacSt since they came into the BSC

[Willie]

How the FFFFF is this thread still going?????

[Gil Dobie]

How the FFFFF is this thread still going?????

Cobbers to the Big Sky

[JBB]

This thread is still going because NDSU is a viable FBS candidate. All of our sports have been competitive. The NDSU volleyball team is hosting the Summit championship tournament. They play tonight for a NCAA berth. If NDSU wins its the second appearance in a row. Last year the Mens team was in the NCAA BB tournament.

The emphasis on winning is an illusion. Its not winning, its the market. NDSU has demonstrated it can maintain an FBS type market win or lose.

If Iowa State came to Fargo every seat would be sold. Heck, we sell them all now when UNI shows up.

[DJH]

This thread is still going because NDSU is a viable FBS candidate. All of our sports have been competitive. The NDSU volleyball team is hosting the Summit championship tournament. They play tonight for a NCAA berth. If NDSU wins its the second appearance in a row. Last year the Mens team was in the NCAA BB tournament.

The emphasis on winning is an illusion. Its not winning, its the market. NDSU has demonstrated it can maintain an FBS type market win or lose.

If Iowa State came to Fargo every seat would be sold. Heck, we sell them all now when UNI shows up.